Do I need a physicians referral?

Yes. SDS does require a physician signed referral. Any PCP or medical doctor is able to order a study for you.

What nights are you open?

We are open 7 nights a week. Please contact our scheduling department to see what day we have open that may work for you.

About My Sleep Study

Will I have my own room?

Yes. Each patient has his/her own private room.

What are the rooms like?

Our room are fully furnished with nice bedroom furniture, night stand, dresser, flat panel tv, and a restroom. It should remind you more of your own bedroom, not a hospital room.

Patient Room at St. Joseph Hospital Lake St. Louis

What do I bring to my sleep study?

Remember to bring your ID card, insurance card, and questionnaire that was mailed. If you are prescribed a sleep aid from your physician, please bring it, but don’t take it until the technician has instructed you to do so. You may also want to bring your own pillow, pajamas, and a change of clothes for the next day.

What if I need sleep medications?

If you think you need one for that night, please make sure to mention it to the schedulers prior to the study so we can arrange the script with your physician.

What happens during the study?

When you arrive at the lab, our sleep technician will show you to your room. After the paperwork has been successfully completed, the tech will place harmless surface electrodes on your scalp, chin, legs, chest, and each side of your eyes with a paste. All of these electrodes will enable us to see all your stages of sleep and get all the information as it pertains to your sleep patterns and behavior. Another sensor will be placed under your nose and an elastic belt will be placed around your chest to monitor your breathing during the night. You will also have a pulse oximeter placed on your finger to monitor your oxygen. The complete setup will take about 45 minutes or so. The technician will monitor your sleep from the other room where the computer will gather and save the large amounts of data about your sleep. If the technician calculates that you have severe sleep apnea, he or she may initiate CPAP for the remaining portion of the night. This will help eliminate the apneas you are experiencing.

What happens after the study is complete?

The data will be sent to our board certified sleep physician and he will review it. He will then send us and your physician a formal report of what he saw and his recommendations.

What time do I need to arrive at the lab?

Typical times to arrive for adult studies is 8:00 or 8:30 pm.

Pediatric study arrival time is 7:00 pm

What time will it be over?

Usually patients leave the lab between 5:30 and 6:00 am.

When can I expect to see the results of the test?

Results are available 7-10 days after the completed study.

Will I have to come in again for another test?

Depending on the results of your test, you may have to come in for a follow up study. This will all be revealed on the interpretation the sleep physician sends out after it has been reviewed.